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Jones not sure where his future is

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James Jones isn’t sure where his football future will take him, but he plans to spend a month or more decompressing with his family before he

James Jones

James Jones

starts getting back into the football swing of things.

Jones will be an unrestricted free agent and it’s uncertain just what the Green Bay Packers thought process is about having him remain a part of the outstanding Packers’ receiving group.

Jones is one of the higher profile players set to hit free agency, joining players like Jermichael Finley, Evan Dietrich-Smith, Sam Shields, B.J. Raji, Ryan Pickett and Johnny Jolly.  Add Mike Neal, John Kuhn and Andrew Quarless to that list as well.

AUDIO: James Jones not sweating free agency :17

Jones was an unrestricted free agent three years ago as well.  He returned to the Packers, but that was a totally different deal.

AUDIO: Jones said things are different this time :11

Jones is also a different player than he was three years ago, from the standpoint of numbers along.  He’s become more of a consistent, productive, go-to player.

Jones and the Packers almost had another week of playoff football to concern themselves with.  They took the 49ers to the wire and lost 23-20 when Phil Dawson booted a 33-yard field goal, his 3rd of the day, to win it for San Francisco.

 

Packers add Tretter to active roster

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The Green Bay Packers added rookie offensive lineman J.C. Tretter to the active 53-man roster on Tuesday and placed wide receiver Myles White on injured reserve.

Tretter is the team’s fourth-round pick out of Cornell.  He suffered a fracture in his fibula and torn ligaments in his ankle the first day of OTA’s on May 20 and started the season on the physically unable to perform list.

Tretter has worked at center during practice for the past few weeks.  That would make him the likely backup if something were to happen to starter Evan Dietrich-Smith.

The Packers had to make a decision on Tretter by yesterday.

Will the Packers lose Dietrich-Smith?

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The Green Bay Packers like Evan Dietrich-Smith at center, but apparently not

Evan Dietrich-Smith

Evan Dietrich-Smith

enough to offer him anything more than the lowest restricted free agent tender.

Under that low tender, the Packers do have the right to match any contract offered to and signed by Dietrich-Smith.  But if the Packers would decide not to match an offer, they would lose Dietrich-Smith without compensation in return.

Dietrich-Smith entered the NFL undrafted, which is why the Packers wouldn’t receive any draft pick compensation for Dietrich-Smith. [Read more…]

Dietrich-Smith to start at center on Sunday

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Green Bay Packers coach Mike McCarthy announced today that Evan Dietrich-Smith would start at center against the

Evan Dietrich-Smith

Tennessee Titans on Sunday. 

Pro Bowl center Jeff Saturday didn’t practice Wednesday or Thursday because of a neck injury but he said he is healthy enough to play on Sunday.

Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers has praised Dietrich-Smith in the past as the Packers center of the future. 

If Dietrich-Smith performs well, the move will likely be permanent.

Saturday signed with the Packers last off-season, a 2-year deal worth $7.75 million.  He was excited about finishing his career with a winner, helping Green Bay get to the Super Bowl in New Orleans.  The Packers may still get there, but it would appear that Saturday will be a part of it.

On the Packers injury report today, Charles Woodson, Tom Crabtree, Jordy Nelson, James Starks and C.J. Wilson have all been ruled out.  Alex Green, Greg Van Roten and Jerel Worthy are all listed as questionable.  Randall Cobb, T.J. Lang, Aaron Rodgers, Jeff Saturday and Erik Walden are all listed as probable.

 

Bulaga out for the season with hip injury

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Green Bay Packers coach Mike McCarthy said right tackle Bryan Bulaga

TJ Lang

suffered a significant hip injury in the win over Arizona over a week ago.  Monday, Bulaga was placed on injured reserve.

That means T.J. Lang will close the season at right tackle and Evan Dietrich-Smith will finish out at left guard.  It also means both Don Barclay and Greg Van Roten, a pair of undrafted rookies, are an injury away from being forced to play as well.

AUDIO: Mike McCarthy on his backup lineman, Don Barclay and Greg Van Roten :20

The Packers have now placed seven players on injured reserve this season, Cedric Benson, Desmond Bishop, Bryan Bulaga, Johnny Jones, Nick Perry, Brandon Saine and D.J. Smith.  Of that group, Cedric Benson is the only player eligible to return before the end of the season.

 

 

Dietrich-Smith versatile in offensive roles

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Evan Dietrich-Smith has proven to be a versatile player for the Packers

Green Bay Packers offensive lineman Evan Dietrich-Smith has played a variety of positions during his time with the green and gold.

He is listed by the Packer’s website as a center/guard, but he can now add tight-end to his profile.

AUDIO: Dietrich-Smith on playing TE :14

Dietrich-Smith, normally a backup offensive lineman, was brought into a few special packages as a tight-end in the Packer’s win over Jacksonville.

The plays he got on the field as an extra tight-end proved to be very successful from an individual and team standpoint.  He says he is excited to get the extra chances and is looking for more. [Read more…]

Lang prepares to move outside if necessary

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For the first time in his NFL career, Green Bay Packers offensive lineman T.J. Lang entered

TJ Lang

training camp with his spot at left guard locked up.  At the time, Lang didn’t figure he’d have to worry about playing other positions on the offensive line, which is something he did in the first few seasons in Green Bay.

The Packers however have struggled to find an adequate backup at the tackle spots, especially behind starter Marshall Newhouse on the left side.  That means Lang will have to be on standby, just in case something were to happen to Newhouse or RT Bryan Bulaga.

He’s been taking some practice reps at tackle, just to stay sharp.

AUDIO: TJ Lang says he’s taking some reps at tackle :18

Lang said he’s definitely much more ready to move out if he has to, compared to a couple of years ago. [Read more…]

Still no word on LT Marshall Newhouse

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With the Green Bay Packers returning to the practice field tonight (7pm), it’s still uncertain whether or not LT Marshall Newhouse will

Derek Sherrod

be with them.

Newhouse left Friday night’s Family Night scrimmage with an undisclosed injury and he wasn’t in the locker room during the noon hour when reporters had access to players.  Coach Mike McCarthy won’t be addressing the media until after tonight’s practice.

While the Packers have their five starters set on the offensive line, an injury could be a big issue for the Packers.

Derek Sherrod is listed as the Packers No. 2 left tackle, but he remains on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list as he continues his recovery from a broken leg suffered last December.  Coach Mike McCarthy last week didn’t sound to optimistic about a quick return for Sherrod. 

That leaves Herb Taylor and Andrew Datko as their top backups at left tackle for now.  But if this situation came up in the regular season, there’s a decent chance the Packers would move TJ Lang to left tackle and bring Evan Dietrich-Smith off the bench and into the left guard spot.  Dietrich-Smith is currently the backup at center.

Saturday reportedly met with Packers on Monday

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The Green Bay Packers are in the market for a center after losing free agent

Scott Wells

Scott Wells to the St. Louis Rams. 

ESPN.com reported that the Packers and Tennessee Titans both contacted Colts free agent Jeff Saturday to set up a visit. 

ProFootballTalk.com reported that Saturday took his visit with the Packers yesterday. 

The 37-year-old Saturday is a five-time Pro Bowler and a two-time all-pro selection. 

Saturday may also draw interest from Denver, now that Peyton Manning is on the verge of signing there.

If the Packers don’t sign a free agent, incumbant Evan Dietrich-Smith would be the leading candidate on the current roster to get a shot at the job.  The Packers also like practice squad player Genus Sampson and could look for a replacement in the draft as well.